The Sunderland Echo has reported the story of a deaf climber who experienced the earthquake in Nepal.

Extract:

A SURVIVOR of the Nepal earthquake has told of how his dream trek to Everest base camp turned into nightmare as he returned to Kathmandu on the day disaster struck.

Keen trekker and climber Mark Grimes had been on a month-long trip of a lifetime to mark his 40th birthday, in January, when he was caught up in the quake last Saturday.

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“Then the quake struck. I just could not comprehend what had happened. It felt like a big, heavy freight train was passing by, but it felt strange and it was not until the ground actually moved when I actually realised it was a quake.

“Then paths cracked up and rubble fell down around me, smoke billowing, scooters falling like a pack of cards, people running. And also windchill roaring through the air.”

Despite the terror that unfolded around him, Mark grabbed his camera to document the immediate aftermath.

It’s a dreadful situation in Nepal and you’re right to highlight the appeal being run by CANEPAL (also DEC and others). Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and needs all the help it can get to recover from this disaster. Let’s not forget that tourism is far and away Nepal’s main source of income. The outlook for the local people is pretty grim for the next few years in the absence of sight-seers, trekkers and climbers.

I know us deaf folk don’t have it easy. But it puts things into perspective and makes us count and blessings when we witness catastrophes like this.